During the hearing at the Islamabad High Court regarding the disappearance of poet Ahmad Farhad, the government sought an extension, prompting Justice Mohsen Akhtar Kayani to summon the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior for a personal appearance.
Justice Kayani stated, addressing the case’s complexity, “I will decide in such a manner that this issue will transcend a mere abduction case; this matter is complex and requires a precedent-setting approach.”
Highlighting the oversight of authority within the government sectors, Justice Kayani questioned, “Does the sector commander live on the moon? Is he that powerful? He’s merely a grade 18 officer. What have you made him out to be? Don’t depend on them; the country can function without them.”
Justice Kayani ordered the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to take a formal statement from the sector commander and present it in court the following day. He also indicated his intention to broaden the scope of the summons. “I will summon the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior, and then I will summon the Prime Minister. This matter is not that simple. I will summon the entire cabinet here and make them decide,” he asserted.
The judge expressed frustration over intelligence agencies’ apparent failures, stating, “This issue has now moved beyond the jurisdiction of the ISI; it’s their failure that they can’t operate within their jurisdiction. Otherwise, the DG ISI and DG MI should appear.”
Justice Kayani criticized the arbitrary actions of certain institutions, remarking, “If the institutions cannot perform, then there is no need for them. This issue is not simple. When they wish, they knock on the door, send their men, and take someone away. On one hand, they send messages and then say the person is not there.”
In concluding his remarks, Justice Kayani emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming decision: “Now the decision will determine whether the country is run by agencies or by law. I am warning that the results of the decision, in this case, will be very severe,” indicating the potential for significant legal and institutional ramifications.
